Zelensky Says Possible Trump Victory in US Elections Would Be Difficult for Ukraine

With increasing speculation about Donald Trump's re-election as President of the United States, Volodymyr Zelensky says Trump's victory in the upcoming November elections would be difficult for his country. In an interview published on Thursday by the BBC World Service, Mr. Zelensky referred to the possibility of Trump's re-election and stated, "This issue is difficult for his country, but Ukrainians are ready for it." The prospect of Trump's return to the White House and the election of Senator J.D. Vance as his vice president has heightened concerns that Washington may reduce its support for European security. Senator J.D. Vance, in an interview about the future of US support for Ukraine, said he "doesn't care" what happens in Ukraine. Mr. Zelensky, who attended the European Political Community meeting in London, referenced this comment in his BBC interview, saying, "Maybe he really doesn't care, but we have to work with the United States." He noted that "Trump's election" would make things difficult, but added, "But we are hardworking." NATO: Ukraine is on an "irreversible path" to NATO membership. On Tuesday, Volodymyr Zelensky urged US leaders not to wait until November and the outcome of the US presidential election to help his country confront Russian military aggression. The US aid package, which was unanimously approved by both the Democratic and Republican parties in the House of Representatives on March 21, includes $61 billion in financial assistance to Ukraine, a significant portion of which has already been transferred. Meanwhile, Trump has claimed during his campaign that he would end this conflict if elected. Mr. Trump asserted that if he had been in power in February 2022, the war between Ukraine and Russia would never have occurred. Zelensky further stated in the interview that F-16 fighter jets have not yet been sent by his country's allies. He emphasized that the presence of F-16s is essential to counter Russian air dominance, noting that these jets have not arrived in Ukraine for 18 months. However, on Thursday, at a NATO gathering in Washington, Joe Biden announced that Denmark and the Netherlands have begun sending American-made F-16s to Ukraine. Mr. Biden had previously also announced the delivery of new air defense systems to Ukraine. The Ukrainian president indicated that he does not expect any change in London’s support for Kyiv with the election of a new British Prime Minister, expressing hope that the new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, would play a more prominent role in international policy, global security defense, and the Ukraine war.